I want to throw a birthday party for my husband but when we sat down to make a guest list I realized that most of the friends we want to invite don’t know each other. Won’t this make for a rather awkward event?

Queenie, what do you think?—Worried hostess

Dear Worried hostess,

It is possible, especially if you just throw them into a room and expect them to circulate and get acquainted. But you could plan some sort of structured event, like a game night or a dinner party where everyone sits around the same table and you start the conversation with some kind of ice-breaking topic like what is their favourite book or movie.